PDP crisis: No agreement with Makarfi yet – Sheriff

Factional National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, has said he was yet to reach an agreement with the Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.

His position came barely three days after the party said it had zoned the office of the national chairman to the southern part of the country.

The caretaker committee also announced that the party’s next national convention to elect national officers would would hold in Port Harcourt on August 17.

At its expanded national caucus meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, the party said the presence of Sen. Buruji Kashamu, a strong supporter of Sheriff at the meeting, was evidence that its reconciliation effort was yielding progress.

But on Saturday, Sheriff emphasised that his faction was still pursuing its cases in court and that he would address the nation on the state of the party on Monday.

Speaking through his factional deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Sheriff said, “I have the express permission of Sheriff to inform our teeming supporters and the PDP faithful nationwide that he has not reached an agreement with anybody, neither has he permitted anybody to conclude on any processes on his behalf.

“We are continuing with our cases in court, we respect the rule of law. Sheriff will address a press conference on Monday on the state of our party, PDP. Our goal remains to return the party to the people and stamp out impunity.”

It was gathered that a few days ago, some leaders of the party met with Sheriff to find a lasting solution to the crisis rocking the party.

Apart from Makarfi, it was learnt that the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, and the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, were at the reconciliatory meeting.

Our correspondent gathered that supporters of Buruji in Sheriff’s camp might also abandon the former governor of Borno State and support Makarfi.

Such supporters included the factional National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo and factional Auditor, Wale Adeyanju.

The two men are said to be ardent supporters of Buruji.

Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that supporters of buruji are being accommodated in the proposed members of the zoning committee.

Names of members of the zoning committee, according to investigations by our correspondent, may be released on Monday.

Makarfi had told journalists on Thursday, shortly after the caucus meeting, that the party was pursuing reconciliation and that the presence of Buruji at the meeting indicated that his committee was making progress.

According to him, “We received reports of reconciliation. You can see by yourself our brother, friend and associate, Sen. Buruji Kashamu. That is evidence of the reconciliation we are making progress and I can assure you that we will never foreclose full reconciliation with Modu Sheriff and others that may still be associated with him.

“What we want is an all inclusive PDP; an equitable, fair and just system in the PDP, where the right of everyone will be commensurate with their level is protected and preserved.”